Insufflator



F. G. M CGAW INSUFFLATOR June 14, 1938.

Filed Oct. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet l vengar.'

y June 14, 193.8. F, G, MCGAW 2,20,762

INSUFFLATOR Filed 001 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. G. MCGAW June 14, 1938.

INSUFFLATOR Filed Oct. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 F. G. MCGAW June 14, 1938.

INSUFFLATOR Fiied oct. 1e, 1935 4 sheets-sheet 4 mf I Patented June 14, 1938 PATENT OFFICE INSUFFLATOR Foster G. McGaw, Evanston, Ill., assignor to American Hospital Supply Corporation, a corporation of Iliinois Application October 16, 1935, Serial No. 45,342

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an insufflator and more particularly to insuillating apparatus in which oxygen is used.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective apparatus in which oxygen, or the like, under high pressure may be introduced into a humidifying chamber so as to become thoroughly saturated with moisture, all entrained water drops being eliminated from the outgoingstream of the oxygen. A further object is to provide improved. apparatus for purifying and properly conditioning a stream oi -oxygen and the like. Other specific advantages will appear as the specication proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a preferred embodiment, by the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. l is a front View in elevation of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2 a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 5; Fig. 3 broken sectional elevation, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Figs. 2 and 5; Fig. 4 a sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 4 of Figs. 2 and 5; Fig. 5 a plan sectional View, the section being taken as indicated at line 5 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 6, a broken sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 6 of Fig. 5.

In 'the illustration given, A designates a casing having its iront wal] provided with a removable closure A; B a pressure control device of Well-known construction which is employed to control the iow of oxygen into the apparatus; and C, humidifying and conditioning apparatus Within the casing A.

The casing A may beoi any suitable construction. Preferably it is formed of metal and is provided with a handle Ill by which the case can be carried. The casing A is apertured on one side to receive an intake pipe and on the other side near its top to. receive an outlet pipe |2. The casing A may `also be provided with metal lugs 3 interiorly threaded to receive screws i4 by which Ithe front wall A is secured to lugs I3 and thereby to casing A.

The pressure control device B may be of any suitable construction. The control device illustrated is of well-known construction and it is believed unnecessary to describe the structure in detail, no claim to the device being made herein. The device consists broadly of a tting l5 providing a chamber thr-ough which oxygen enters from pipe Pressure contr-ol members are provided within tting l5 and are regulated by handle I6 on stem A riser, |8, communicates with inlet pipe Il near the tting l5 and enters a pressure gauge I9. A second riser 2t communicates with a pipe 2| leading out of the tting I5 and communicates with a flow meter 22. The 5 outlet pipe 2| through which oxygen ows from the fitting l5 communicates through pipe 23 and fitting 24 with a casting 25 which is connected to the bottom of inner receptacle 26. The casting 25 is provided with an extension 2l having a threaded end received within fitting 24. Extension 2l is provided with a flow passage 28 therethrough, the passage being controlled by the threaded member 29. As sho-Wn more clearly in Fig. 6, passage 28 communicates with vertical chamber 30.

The receptacle 26 is provided with a heavy bottom 3| which is threaded on its lower side to receive the threaded extension 32 of casting 25. A gasket 33 is preferably placed between casting 25 and bottom wall 3i, and as shown, the two parts may be further secured together by means of screws 33a. The bottom wall 3| is provided with an annular recess extending about the cylindrical extension 32 and in which recess is placed a series of screen discs 34. A deeper annular recess 35 surrounds the screen discs 34. Transverse passages 36 and 3l connect chamber 3U with the screen disc charnber 34.

A water level gauge 38 of well-known construction, is provided with a gauge which extends into receptacle 2S. The upper portion oi the gauge is provided with a water-filling cock 39, and the lower portion of the gauge is provided with a drain cock di). In view of the wellknown construction of such a gauge it is believed unnecessary to describe the parts in detail. The casing A is preferably provided with a marker 4| adjacent the glass tube to indicate the proper level of the liquid.

Supported adjacent receptacle or tank 26 is a second tank 42. The two tanks are connected near their bottom by a liquid connector pipe 43. A deflector pipe 44 leads from the top portion of tank 26 and is curved downwardly into receptacle 42, thus directing oxygen from tank 26 toward the bottom of tank 42. An outlet pipe |2 leads from the upper portion of tank 42 and is provided with a suitable connection 45 to which the tubing 46 may be attached. The tubing 46 may lead to a catheter or other suitable instrument. To prevent the building up of excessive pressure within receptacles 2S and 42, I provide connections 4l, 48 and 49 leading to a pressure 55 relief valve 50. In View of the well-known construction of the type of relief valve 5B illustrated, it is believed unnecessary to describe its parts in detail. Any suitable spring or weight controlled pressure relief device may be employed.

Operation In the operation of the apparatus, oxygen enters under pressure through pipe Il. The pressure of the stream is registered by meter I9 on the riser I8. The pressure of the oxygen stream entering the fitting l5 of the regulator B is controlled by this well-known mechanism. The gauge 22 carried by riser 2i] on the outlet pipe 2| indicates the liters flow per minute of oxygen. From pipe 2| the oxygen flows downwardly through connections 23 and 24 and into passage 28 provided by the extension 2l, the passage being `controlled as desired by a threaded member 29. chamber 36 and from thence through the transverse openings 36 and 31 into the screen disc chamber 34. Any suitable filtering material may be employed for removing foreign matter carried by the oxygen stream. The oxygen having passed the filters 34 enters the annular recesses 35 and passes into the interior of receptacle 26.

Receptacle 26 aswell as receptacle 42, is lled with water up to the level indicated by the dotted line in Fig. 2 or to any suitable level. The liquid connector pipe 43 equalizes the level in the two containers 26 and 42. The level is raised to the desired point by pourin-g water into the cock 39. If the level should be too high it may be lowered by manipulating the drain cock 40.

The oxygen passing, as indicated by arrows in Fig. 2, into the reservoir of water becomes thor oughly saturated with moisture. It then passes upwardly in receptacle 26 and is directed into receptacle 42 by pipe 44. The pipe 44 is curved downwardly so as to direct the oxygen stream toward the liquid level in receptacle 42. If any entrained droplets are carried by the oxygen, these are thrown out by the reversal of direction of flow of the oxygen and fall into the liquid pool of receptacle 42. The oxygen, freed of impurities and water droplets, passes upwardly and out through pipe l2. The cleansed and humidied oxygen then passes through the tube 46 to the catheter or other suitable instrument.

If excessive pressure should develop within either of the chambers 26 or 42, the relief valve 5i) permits a sufficient amount of gas to escape and thus automatically reduces the pressure to that which may be safely tolerated.

While in the foregoing description I have set out specific apparatus parts, it will be understood that such parts may be changed and modied considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention.

It will be observed that the oxygen passing through the liquid pool is thoroughly saturated and that any entrained liquid is removed from the stream in chamber 42. The entrained liquid is returned to the pool within receptacle 42 which is connected by overflow pipe to the pool within receptacle 26.

From passage 28 the oxygen passes intok The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in View of the prior art.

I claim:

1-. In apparatus ofthe character set forth, a pair of receptacles connected by a liquid connector pipe, an oxygen inlet pipe entering the bottom of one of said receptacles, pressure equalizer means for controlling the flow of oxygen through said inlet pipe, an outlet pipe communicating with the top portion of the second receptacle, an oxygen overflow pipe connecting with the top portions of said receptacles and having a curving end portion directing the oxygen downwardly in said second receptacle, and a pressure relief valve communicating with one of said receptacles.

2. In apparatus of the character set forth, a casing, a pair of receptacles supported within said casing, said receptacles being connected near the bottoms witha liquid overiiow pipe, the rst of said receptacles being provided with a heavy bottom wall affording filter recesses therein and oxygen iiow passages communicating with said filter recesses, passages establishing communication between said lter recesses and the interior of the first receptacle, means for passing oxygen into the flow passages of said receptacle bottom, an outlet oxygen pipe connecting the top portions of the receptacles and equipped with a deflector directing the oxygen downwardly in the second receptacle.

3. In apparatus of the character set forth, a pair of receptacles connected by a liquid connector pipe, an oxygen inlet pipe entering the bottom of one of said receptacles, pressure equalizer means for controlling the ow of oxygen through said inlet pipe, an outlet pipe communicating with the top portion of the second receptacle, and an oxygen overflow pipe extending below said outlet pipe and connecting the top portions of said receptacles, said oxygen overflow pipe having a curving end portion directing the oxygen downwardly in said second receptacle.

4. In apparatus of the character set forth, a casing, a pair of receptacles supported within said casing, said receptacles being connected near the bottoms with a liquid overflow pipe, the rst of said receptacles being provided with a heavy bottom wall affording filter recesses therein and oxygen flow passages communicating with said lter recesses, passages establishing communication between said iilter recesses and the interior of the iirst receptacle, means for passing oxygen into the ow passage of said receptacle bottom, an oxygen outlet pipe connecting the top portions of the receptacles and equipped with a deflector directing the oxygen downwardly in the second receptacle, and an outlet pipe communicating with said second receptacle above the deflector of said outlet oxygen pipe.

FOSTER G. MCGAW. 

